New Year's Eve Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Hide the cards before the countdown. Preview the hunt free. The PDF is emailed when it is ready.

On New Year's Eve at home, a clue trail fills the wait before your countdown, at midnight or at an early kids' countdown before bedtime. Our hunts are birthday treasure hunts with no New Year's theme, but the trail is the same: ten clue cards lead through the spots you pick to a treasure at the end. The space hunt suits a countdown, since Nova the space cat collects stars along the way. Preview the cards free before you pay.

How the hunt works

Sample clue flavor

Front door mat

Ten, nine, eight, the countdown starts here. Check the coat closet, the next clue is near.

Coat closet

Hats and scarves in the cold night air. Lift the couch cushion and look under there.

Couch

Seven, six, five, keep up the pace. The bottom bookshelf is the place.

Bookshelf, bottom shelf

Four, three, two, the year is new. Run to the bedroom wall, number one waits for you.

Hiding spots for a New Year's Eve hunt

Keep the route indoors and out of the kitchen. Skip anything high, sharp, or in a room you do not want opened.

Kids of different ages

One printed set has one reading level. For a mix of ages, pick Explorer if the youngest hunter is 4 to 6, and ask the older kids to read each rhyme aloud. Pick Detective if most of the group is 7 to 10, and pair each younger child with an older one. Everyone opens the treasure together at the countdown.

A winter-break day indoors

The same hunt fills a cold or wet day when school is out. End at a treasure with a new book, crayons or a puzzle for the afternoon.

Preview the K-pop hunt. Bibi the hamster with star sunglasses and a lightstick. A trail from room to room for kids who love music.

Preview the detective hunt. Milo the fox in a checkered cap. A case from room to room that ends at the treasure.

Read winter birthday party ideas indoors

More winter guides

Christmas present scavenger hunt, Winter birthday party ideas indoors.

Create this hunt. Free preview, then print at home for $29.99.

Want a free printable to try? Get the free printable (five clue cards and a certificate). We email you the download link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this New Year's-themed?

No. The hunts are birthday treasure hunts with themes like space, K-pop and detective. There is no New Year's theme, and the cards are written for a birthday. You choose the spots and when the first card goes out, so it fits a birthday near New Year's Eve or a winter-break party.

What ages is it for?

Ages 4 to 10. Explorer, with pictures and rhymes read aloud, suits about 4 to 6. Detective, with riddles and small puzzles, suits about 7 to 10.

Can kids of different ages share one hunt?

Yes. One set of cards works for a group, at one reading level, with an older child reading for a younger one.

Can the hunt end at an early kids' midnight?

Yes. You choose when the first card goes out, and the treasure card is the final card, so put it with the treasure for the countdown.

What should go in the treasure?

Stickers, a small book, crayons and paper, a puzzle, or a treat. If you use food, check allergies with every parent first. Keep confetti, small parts and coin batteries away from kids under 3, and skip balloons for anyone under 8.

How does the preview and pricing work?

Preview the theme character and two hiding-spot illustrations for free, with sample clue text. The final PDF arranges the artwork along your route. The full hunt, 10 stops plus a cover and a treasure card, is $29.99 and prints as a PDF on Letter or A4 paper.

All hunt themes

Related